Puppetry Arts Center Of The Palm Beaches Inc

Nonprofit Issues:

Address:

Mission:

To use the art of puppetry to educate, inspire creativity and imagination, and to enchant, for all diverse populations.

Target demographics:

children, teachers, parents, families, etc

Direct beneficiaries per year:

6659 that benefited from the educational performances.

Geographic areas served:

Delray Beach, FL

Programs:

performance & museum. The Center uses the puppetry arts to educate, inspire creativity and imagination, and to enchant the diverse populations. The Center has professional performances by puppeteers, national, international, and local that use a variety of puppet styles and presentations. The Center's puppetry museum has a variety of puppet styles both modern and traditional.

Reviews for Puppetry Arts Center Of The Palm Beaches Inc

I have been involved with the Puppetry Arts Center from its humble beginnings. Throughout the years I have watched as the Puppetry Arts Center has grown and moved (many times). I've watched as thousands of children have sat in amazement and awe watching show after show at the Puppet Center. I've seen Jan Timmis, the Centers Executive Director get every teenager at an at-risk High School involved and truly enjoy making a puppet during a puppet building workshop at the school. Everyone should see this entertaining and educational program.

If this organization had 10 million bucks, it could...

go on and continue to educate, entertain and thrill many children and adults. The wonders that it could bestow upon the people that would be able to enter its doors would be astounding. I wish I could give them 10 million dollars.

How frequently have you been involved with the organization?

About every month

When was your last experience with this nonprofit?

If you are looking for a great way to entertain your children and yourselves or even to be educated, the Puppetry Arts Center of the Palm Beaches is the way to go. I have been to several shows over the last twelve years and have enjoyed them all. The content ranges from magic shows to ventriloquism to classic fairy tales to original works. My favorite is the original screenplay called "One Voice, One Heart". It's a story about an alien who crash lands on Earth and learns about the diversity of the planet and how we are different yet we are the same. It is a very moving and educational screenplay. Although the plays and scripts are meant for children, adults are both entertained and educated. Puppets are for all ages, not just children. I would recommend anyone to see the performers who are top quality and very talented.

When was your last experience with this nonprofit?

I have been involved with puppetry and the Puppetry Arts Center for over 30 years. I really applaude this nonprofit Center in meeting the needs of the children in this county. I see the need for children in the area to see a real live stage production. They delightfully learn theatre manners from Sunshine, the marionette lion,as he teaches in a charming way. They love Sunshine and they respond and learn.
The museum and theater is a unique addition to theatre and the arts in the area. I see all the work the director and the volunteers are doing. They work hard and are ever ever hopeful that they will have a permanent puppet center in this area to continue serving children, young people and adults.

When was your last experience with this nonprofit?

Never have I found an organization so dedicated to performance with puppets, in South Florida, as the Puppetry Arts Center. My son, his friends and I have been delighted by these puppets and performers for over 5 years. In this time, my son has enjoyed “performances with a message” about pollution, ethnic diversity, kindness and theater manners (through a marionette bear named Sunshine). We have also made puppets in a workshop, fascinating! The children’s experience is truly priceless since they get carried away with the puppets (forgetting that people are behind them). The adults are nostalgic and grateful that puppets are still enjoyed in this very modern world of ours. In the community, The Puppetry Arts Center also provides complimentary admission to those children without the financial means. This is surely an organization that is worth additional effort and so I have made a new commitment this year (as a volunteer) to help in any way I can. Please don’t take our Sunshine (the puppet) away!

When was your last experience with this nonprofit?

I am an elementary school librarian who discovered the Center in the spring of 2009. I was initially interested in attending some introductory puppetry workshops, but I found so much more at the Puppetry Arts Center of the Palm Beaches! The directors, Jan & Bill Timmis, have 20+ years of passion and experience. They've amassed an impressive archive of puppet theatre history and a collection of puppetry memorabilia in the museum. FASCINATING! The store offers a variety of puppets, and patrons do not leave without receiving some hands-on instruction. The piece de resistance is the theatre which seats 140 people. They offer professional performances for the price of a Starbuck's coffee. AMAZING!!!
Unfortunately, The Puppetry Arts Center is Palm Beach County's best known secret, and it desperately needs funding -- SAVE THE PUPPETS!

When was your last experience with this nonprofit?

i have always enjoyed performing at the puppetry atrs center. they have helped me expand and grow as an entertainer.
the people involved are great, and have done sooo much for the community.
i would like to see them continue !

When was your last experience with this nonprofit?

I have performed at the Puppetry Arts Center of the Palm Beaches at each of its all too many locations. I've averaged three different visits a year with a variety of shows that incorporated hand, hand & rod,and shadow puppets as well as marionettes. In the earlier years, we were able to present a full week of performances ending with 2 performances on Saturday. Through the years, the various moves made it difficult to maintain the audience levels, Each relocation required a great deal of work to transform the newest site into a viable theatre space. Each move also required considerable monetary outlays - several moves required costs for construction and relocating plumbing for public restrooms, etc.
Jan and Bill Timmis have consistantly strived to provide a home for economically priced family entertainment that also sought to teach basic human values through the variety of performances they presented at the Puppetry Arts Center. Their dedication to the Center is all-encompassing.

I've personally experienced the results of this organization in...

as I've seen repeat children's audience members react to their being welcomed to the theatre by Sunshine and Miss Jan and seeing that the children have learned how to be a member of an audience and enjoy a live performance.

If I had to make changes to this organization, I would...

try to locate board members that would work to fulfill the Centers ultimate goals.

What I've enjoyed the most about my experience with this nonprofit is...

seeing the faces of young children - particularly from the inner city and lower-income groups - as they experienced live theatre for the first time.

The kinds of staff and volunteers that I met were...

always intent on providing a unique theatre experience for the audience.

If this organization had 10 million bucks, it could...

fulfill their dreams of an all-encompassing theatre facility that would enable them to have performances, workshops, a museum space and sufficient storage and rehearsal/construction space under one roof.

Ways to make it better...

the Puppetry Arts Center would have the opportunity to have a permanent facility of their own that included the various spaces that would allow performances, a museum, workshops and storage.

In my opinion, the biggest challenges facing this organization are...

establishing mor community awareness of their mission and their plight.

One thing I'd also say is that...

How frequently have you been involved with the organization?

About every six months

When was your last experience with this nonprofit?

Since I was a child, I've had fond memories of puppetry in all its forms, but especially marionettes. I had forgotton how much this performing art meant to me until I had my first visit to Puppetry Arts Center (of PB). Watching their shows and seeing the expression on the faces of kids (and big adult kids too), reminded me why teaching performing arts is so important to the formation of young people. You don't get that life experience of story telling from video games or the Intenet.
Now as a volunteer and friend of the Center, I am excited to see what the future holds for a new permanent facility for upcoming shows and programs for the expansion of the Theater and Museum.

If this organization had 10 million bucks, it could...

build a permanent facility to service all of South Florida with the programming and services for all ages: children, teens, college and adults. With a rich 16 year history in the community, it continues to shine as one of the brightest stars in the area.

When was your last experience with this nonprofit?

I found the Puppetry Arts Center when looking for a volunteer job that would be fun. The people were wonderful. Their variety of puppets from all over the world was very impressive.
I thought it was a shame that they had to worry about moving to another new space instead of enjoying their love of putting on the show! I did have the pleasure of attending a few shows.I saw how the kids from day care centers had a ball. Puppets are magical,as well as live performances. On one occasion I brought my grandchildren along. They were talking about it for months!
This Center is a true gift for the community.I would surely hate to see it disappear.

I've personally experienced the results of this organization in...

going to a few of the shows and watching the childrens reactions...JOY.

If I had to make changes to this organization, I would...

Find a wonderful home to house their wonderful collection of Puppets, and a safe and easy to get to place to see performances. Also needed is a staff of volunteers to handlethe organizational jobs and give Jan the freedom to concentrating on the shows.

What I've enjoyed the most about my experience with this nonprofit is...

The people were lovely. It was nice to be around people who loved the same things I do(Kids, fun, Puppets, performances).

The kinds of staff and volunteers that I met were...

Jan, Bill and Terry were fabulous. There were a few other volunteers ,but they were constant. I myself could only come once a week or so for a certain period in time. I believe they really needed more help.

If this organization had 10 million bucks, it could...

Hire people who would take care of the fund raising and the day to day work that goes in to running a theater. They could find a great spot, and get great entertainers in.

Ways to make it better...

If they were situated in a place that was in a safe environment.(I was a little uncomfortable at the Palm Beach Mall that was practically deserted.)

In my opinion, the biggest challenges facing this organization are...

Finding a great place and staff.

One thing I'd also say is that...

In this day and age,I think our kids are spending way too much time being entertained by TV and computer games. There is nothing like a live performance. S.Florida has many Grandmas who search for special events for their visiting Grandchildren!